Escape Artist’s International Real Estate Website Escape Artist’s International Real Estate website is one of the premier places on the internet to market and find international property listings for over 20 years. The Escape Artist Real Estate site gives Buyers and Sellers a state-of-the-art real estate website to make it the easiest international real estate site for Sellers and Buyers: Features for real estate buyers, renters, and investors: • Find international real estate that suits your needs • Save your favorite properties • Save your favorite searches • And get property updates when new properties are listed in the market that interest you… Features for Sellers and Renters: • List your international real estate for sale or rent • Advertise your international real estate in our newsletter • Additionally, we offer custom international real estate marketing services to Sellers, Brokers, and Developers. Please visit the site here: http://www.escapeartist.com/realestate/ Escape Artist’s International Real Estate Services Finally, Escape Artist Real Estate is also growing an international property agent and professional services network around the globe to further assist international buyers and sellers of real estate. The services include Buyer’s Agents, Seller’s Agents, Real Estate Attorneys, and more. Our network includes specialists in all types of real estate: • Residential Real Estate • Commercial Real Estate • Investment Properties • Land and Lots • Developments We pride ourselves on being able to provide our readers the best real estate buying experience possible. We understand that investing, home buying, and even renting, can be a painful process, given the endless amount of misleading information online. The team at Escape Artist has over 100+ years of experience in international real estate and we are excited to share our knowledge with you. To see if we offer real estate services in the area you are interested in please contact us here: http://www.escapeartist.com/realestate/handbook-contact/ Contributors Writers: Thomas Alvarez & Ricardo Llovet-Nava TABLE OF CONTENTS Chile Map 1 Introduction 1 Welcome to Chile 4 History 8 Weather & Climate 9 Demographics Language Religion Currency Government 10 Politics 11 Flag and National Emblems 11 Economy 12 Culture 12 Print Media 13 Television 13 Holidays 14 Famous Chileans 15 Cuisine 16 Travel to Chile When to Travel How to Travel 18 Basic Travel Info 19 Vat 20 Chilean Residency and Citizenship 22 Chilean Consulate and Embassy Information 23 Medical and Healthcare 24 Education Universities Preschool 28 Legal 32 Traveling with Children 32 Women Travelers 33 LGBT + Travelers 33 Travelers with Disabilities 33 Where to Travel 34 Far North (Norte Grande) 34 San Pedro de Atacama Putre Antofagasta Calama Iquique Arica Near North (Norte Chico) 43 La Serena Elqui Valley and Vicuña Copiapo Central Chile (Zona Central) 48 Valparaiso Viña del Mar Concepción Talca The near South (Zona Sur) 57 Puerto Montt Puerto Varas Isla de Chiloé and Gulf of Ancud Valdivia Coñaripe Osorno Far South (Zona Austral) 69 Magallanes and Punta Arenas Puerto Natales Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Further Noteworthy Regions 75 Easter Island 76 Hanga Roa Investing in Chile 78 Foreign Investment Law Financial Institutions with Correspondent U.S. Banks More banks with international accreditation Buying Real Estate in Chile CHILE MAP Dear Friend and Fellow Traveler, Over the last ten years, Chile has captured the eye of many forward-thinking Americans. Chile, although seemingly small coming in as one of the slenderest countries in the world, is an impressively large vertical stretch of diverse climates and increasing development, making it an exceptionally beautiful and comfortable destination for travelers. It is a place where investors see significant returns and where travelers enjoy a very inexpensive, yet culturally rich and fulfilling vacation experience. But with all that, there are only a few thousand Americans who can honestly say that Chile has become their home. This handbook is intended to provide a base of information for those who may be curious about investment opportunities in South America. Given the political climate in the States, as well as the increasingly unstable market there, more Americans are considering investing abroad. In this handbook, you’ll find everything from bus schedules to domestic airline routes, with contact information and websites. Each of the regions of the country are described. Hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions are listed. Phone numbers and websites are included so you can check them out before you get here. For people interested in staying longer, or perhaps living here, we have included the invaluable “15 Questions You Should Ask When Buying Property Overseas,” for you to utilize as part of your due diligence process. Quite simply, the Chile Handbook is a one-stop shop for all the information you want on the country of Chile. Chile has incredible geographic diversity, honest culture, and the highest standard of living in Latin America. The cost of living remains reasonable, especially considering the standard of living that you are buying into. Moving to a foreign land certainly comes with its challenges. But residency is increasingly easy to establish and expat communities in South and Central America are growing stronger every day. Once you arrive and experience the lifestyle first hand, you will likely find it difficult to leave this wonderful country. What will you see? Hundreds of miles north to south of an astonishing array of climates, from seaside resorts and beach villages to mountains, lakes and urban hubs like Santiago. The people of Chile take pride in their low levels of public corruption. You’ll meet dozens of honest, smart, and incredibly hard working people - folks willing to take part in the modernization of their country and eager for Chile to continue on its path of progress. And you’ll experience a culture that’s been fostered and cherished, giving it a glow that satisfies visitors and residents alike. Chile is steeped in old-fashioned traditions: religion is a part of daily life and family traditions come far ahead of almost every other social consideration. This is a place where manners, customs, and friendships matter – more so than convenience. This is a place where grandparents live as part of the family. Of course, there are immense financial benefit to buying real estate in Chile. International real estate is one of the most comprehensive forms of diversification one can add to their portfolio. It’s for an individual to determine what real estate they may be interested in, but this guide will certainly help by familiarizing the reader with the country. Whether you’re interested in this Handbook as a guide for general knowledge, vacation, investment or even expatriation, our Chile Handbook will tell you all you want to know. With the country of Chile, you will have the opportunity to invest in culture, a culture that prioritizes a family-centric life and values deeply strong friendships. Where higher standard of living is obtainable. A cook, a maid, a gardener, and a driver – essentially ‘round the clock help – in America is out of reach for most every middle class American. But here, that’s all standard for middle class folks. What you pay for cable TV each month is about what you would pay for domestic staff here. Chile is one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations. It offers beautiful geography to explore, a rich culture, and incredible investment opportunities for those interested in expanding their world. Allow our handbook to guide you with information in your first steps towards an investment of a lifetime. Daniel Wilhelm Publisher Escape Artist Introduction Chile, the “land of fire and ice,” where you can see three drastically different, yet incredibly beautiful climates in one country. Renowned for its natural beauty, delicious cuisine, and inviting local culture, Chile has become a well-known Latin American tourist destination that still holds on to its mythical, unexplored ethos. In Chile you can experience the busy metropolitan and cosmopolitan allure of its historical major cities as easily as you can slip into the tranquil and secluded northern deserts, central mountains, or Arctic south. Its legendary wine and cuisine will have you buying more Chilean products as soon as you get home. Additionally, as one of the safest and most stable countries in Latin America, Chile makes a perfect destination for your next vacation. Welcome to Chile GEOGRAPHY Chile’s incredibly thin landmass tricks many people into thinking that it is a relatively small country. However, Chile’s length, about the distance from New York to San Francisco, makes up for what it lacks in width. This length of 2,700 miles/4,300 kilometers is the key factor that allows for there to be such climatic, biological, and geographical diversity. Though its maximum width is 150 miles/240 kilometers, this doesn’t impede you from seeing everything from deserts to penguins. About 80% of Chile’s landmass is made up of mountains, big and small. The large Andes make up all of Chile’s eastern border, while smaller mountain and hill ranges can be found throughout the entire country. Chile’s rocky topography is due to the almost incessant tectonic activity off of its Pacific coast, which has also led to Chile’s proclivity for earthquakes - though the country is well prepared for them. Due to the combination of its length and abundance of mountains, Chile is usually split up into five regions: the far north, near north, central Chile, southern Chile, and the far south. The Far North (Norte Grande) Home to the Atacama Desert, El Norte Grande is more diverse and vibrant than many tourists think it to be before they visit. In contrast to the common idea of deserts being flat and empty plots of land, the Atacama Desert is hilly and mountainous.